Chapter 1 Prologue

Alice stepped carefully into the room, her shoes clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The space was large, with high ceilings and dim gold lighting. Plush chairs sat near the windows, and velvet curtains hung heavy over the glass. A glass table stood untouched, and behind it, near the far wall, Rodriguez stood with his back to her, looking out the tall window.

He turned slowly when he heard the door close. His eyes met hers, then shifted away.

"You shouldn't be here," Rodriguez said, his voice low and firm. "You should go back downstairs. Your family is waiting."

Alice didn't move. "I don't want to go back."

Rodriguez raised an eyebrow but didn't speak.

She stepped forward, unhurried but sure of herself. "I came up here because of you," she said. "I saw you leave, and I followed you."

"You followed me?" he asked.

"Yes." She paused. "I wanted to see you."

Rodriguez crossed his arms. "You've seen me. Now go."

"No."

He narrowed his gaze. "Alice."

She tilted her chin up. "I'm not going."

Rodriguez let out a breath and turned his back again. "Your father's downstairs."

"I know."

"He's a police officer."

"I know that too."

Rodriguez's voice dropped, steady but cold. "And you want to be alone in a room with me? What do you think will happen here?"

Alice walked toward him slowly, step by step. "I know what I want."

He turned around sharply. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't," he said. "You're just a girl-"

"I'm not just a girl," she interrupted, stepping closer until there was little space left between them. "I'm not a child. I know who you are. I know the things people say about you. And I know what I want."

Rodriguez looked down at her, his expression tight. "You don't understand the kind of man I am."

"I've heard enough," Alice said. "You're experienced. Some even say dangerous. And you've been with many women."

Rodriguez didn't reply.

She took another step closer. "So why not me?"

He blinked once, slowly. "Because you're different."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Because you're innocent," he said. "Because you're the daughter of a cop. Because you shouldn't want anything from a man like me."

Alice lifted her hand and touched the edge of his suit jacket. "Maybe I want something I've never had before."

He stiffened under her touch. "You don't know what you're asking me to do."

"I want you to touch me."

"No."

"Yes."

Rodriguez turned sharply away from her again, his jaw tight. "I don't touch girls like you."

She moved closer again, now behind him. "That's not true. You're just afraid."

He turned back quickly, his voice rising slightly. "Afraid?"

"Yes," she said. "Afraid you might actually feel something."

Rodriguez's eyes searched hers for a long moment. Neither of them spoke. The only sound was the soft beat of music from the floor below and the quiet thrum of silence between them.

Then Alice said softly, "Teach me."

He looked at her, not moving. "Teach you what?"

"What you know. What you've done with others. I want that. From you."

Rodriguez gave a short laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You don't even know what you're saying."

"I do," she said, more firmly now. "I want you. All of you."

"You shouldn't," he said again, but this time his voice wasn't as strong.

"I don't care what I should or shouldn't want."

He stared at her again, his face unreadable. Then his hand moved. Slowly, he reached forward and brushed his fingers along her jaw.

Alice didn't pull back.

"You don't even flinch," he said quietly. "You have no idea how dangerous I am."

"I'm still here."

For a moment, it looked like he would speak again, but instead, he stepped forward suddenly and pulled her closer, one hand gripping her waist, the other holding the back of her neck.

"You want to learn something?" he said, his voice rough. "Fine."

He kissed her hard, without hesitation. It wasn't gentle or sweet. It was intense, commanding, and nothing like Alice had ever known. His hand stayed tight at her waist, keeping her close. Her lips opened under his, and the moment grew deeper, heavier.

Her fingers clutched at his shirt, and she made a soft sound against his mouth. He pulled back slightly, his breath uneven.

"Still want to keep going?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered.

He kissed her again, slower this time, but no less firm. One kiss turned into another, and then another, until she was pressed against the edge of the table and his hands were at her waist, then her back.

Rodriguez lifted her gently onto the table without saying anything. He stood between her knees, holding her hips still, kissing her again until her fingers gripped the back of his neck.

He pulled back just enough to look into her face.

"You're shaking," he said.

Alice shook her head. "I'm not afraid."

He held her gaze. "You should be."

Then he kissed her again. Longer. Deeper. Slower.

Her hands moved to his chest, over the buttons of his shirt, and she started undoing them one by one. He didn't stop her. He only watched her with his eyes low and heavy, breathing through his nose.

When she finished, she placed her hands flat on his bare chest.

Rodriguez touched her hair, running his fingers through it slowly. "You're really not going to stop, are you?"

"No."

His hands moved to her back again, finding the zipper of her dress. She didn't stop him.

The dress slid down her shoulders, and she let it fall to her waist. He touched her skin gently at first, as if unsure, then more firmly.

"You're beautiful," he said, his voice quiet now. "You don't know what you do to people."

"I want you to want me," she said.

"I do."

He lifted her into his arms, carried her toward the bed, and laid her down.

"You want me to fuck you. That's exactly what you're going to get."

He breathed.